Date: Fri 21-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

budget-town-school-grand-list

Full Text:

Town And Schools Present $53 Million Budget

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

While preparing his budget presentation for the Legislative Council Wednesday

afternoon, First Selectman Bob Cascella received some surprising news. The

same could be said for Board of Education Chairman Herb Rosenthal.

This year's grand list of $1.5 billion showed only a 0.5 percent increase over

last year, meaning there will be less revenue to offset rising costs.

The two men were counting on a grand list increase of closer to four percent

to help cover their combined $53 million budget, which they handed over to the

Legislative Council Wednesday night. The total budget represents a $3.3

million increase in spending over last year.

"We expected a normal growth year," said Mr Rosenthal.

Mr Cascella said the small increase in the grand list made sense, considering

last year's revaluation adjusted all property values from 1985 values to

today's values.

Town Budget

While there are increases in the overall package, Mr Cascella explained to the

council that most of the line-item increases were unavoidable.

"We can't not hook up the sewers," he said. The one-time sewer plant start-up

will cost $275,000, while the hooking up of town buildings will cost $70,000.

Newtown's extensive sewer project is expected to be completed in the fall.

Mr Cascella's $23 million budget, a 6.9 percent increase, also includes an

extra $1 million for capital road construction costs, $328,000 worth of debt

service to cover borrowing for the additions to the Hawley and Newtown High

schools.

Other new costs included in Mr Cascella's budget include $125,000 for an

incentive plan for volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel, $100,000

for self-funded health insurance; $64,000 for technology updates to the

finance department, $50,000 for a new roof on Edmond Town Hall, and $35,000 in

contingency.

A recent notice from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities indicated

the town/schools will be receiving $570,000 less in revenue from the state

over the next two years. (See related story.)

The Board of Selectmen trimmed $3,000 from Mr Cascella's original proposal.

School Budget

Of the Board of Education's $1.7 million in increases, contracted salary

increases for existing staff members of $475,000 account for 30 percent of it.

According to School Business Manager John Torok, those increases are the

results of normal 2-3 percent increases in salary, plus several custodial and

clerical positions added to meet the needs of the school additions.

Mr Rosenthal said many of the new costs in the proposed school budget are

building-addition- or sewer-related. An additional $243,700 was added to

maintain and use the 109,000-square-feet of new space at Hawley School and

Newtown High School, while $151,000 was added in to cover sewer hookups. These

two costs represent a quarter of the budget increase, according to Mr

Rosenthal.

New certified positions amount to an additional $209,000 increase, contracted

services have gone up $57,000, and out-of-district costs have gone up

$119,000. An additional $92,000 has also been included for computer

replacements, with another $70,000 included in the budget for technology

support positions. Instructional supplies are up $61,000.

Miscellaneous costs, including bus driver salary increases, equipment, staff

development, etc, are up $186,000.

"I think the town can feel comfortable that we are getting results while not

spending what other towns are spending," Mr Rosenthal said.

Regarding per-pupil spending, the Board of Education chairman said Newtown

ranks 17th out of 18 towns in its economic reference group of towns with

similar wealth. According to Mr Rosenthal, Newtown has slipped to 143 of 166

districts in net current expenditures per students.

The council has scheduled four budget workshops to discuss the proposal. The

first meeting is scheduled March 4.